Original Las Vegas

[happyfilmluvguy]

It sounds a bit like Universal CityWalk here (and Florida, Downtown Disney, etc). I think of that particular part of Las Vegas as a forever moving Main Street Electrical Parade.

By law, historically registered structures aren't allowed to be distroyed but the interior can be changed to the owners wishes. Is this correct?

 

[John in Covina]

Two good A&E Vegas programs

http://store.aetv.com/html/product/index.jhtml?id=70304

the 4 program series called "The Real Las Vegas" and the "Modern Marvels: Las Vegas" program are pretty good with the Real Las Vegas going in depth as to history but MM is a fine show too. I did not go to Las Vegas until about 1986 and since then try to go once a year for pleasure. The weekday Vegas Monday thru Thursday when there is no major convention(s) in town is a different animal than the weekend or major convention week Vegas.

Between the shows, museums, dining and sights plus their antique stores in any visit gambling is a minor portion of an ordinary stay for me.

I do miss the Sands where i stayed a couple of times before it's implosion, and did stay at the DI (Desert Inn) before it was imploded. They were a a connection back to early Strip Las Vegas.

I enjoy touring about in the day, and in the late afternoon spending some time in the pool and jacuzzi. Up for a shower and change clothes then alittle snooze or tv and out to dinner fairly early so I can hit a show or do more touring in the evening. I don't stay out all night unless i am winning. I have some favorite places to hit and there is usually new stuff to see so it is not all about gambling. I am looking forward to checking out the Wynn Casino. Just not enough time on my last 2 trips to get there.

My favorite line in the Real Las Vegas is when asked about the Mob running Vegas in the early days, Debbie Reynolds said, "Well, nobody got killed that wasn't supposed to get killed."

Two films that give some interesting glimpses of Vegas before the explosion are the Original "Oceans Eleven" and the Bond film "Diamonds Are Forever" which give some quick scenes of the strip when there was almost nothing around. DAF has some downtown Fremont Street scenes that are extraordinary.

Viva Las Vegas.

 

[pretty faythe]

It sounds a bit like Universal CityWalk here (and Florida, Downtown Disney, etc). I think of that particular part of Las Vegas as a forever moving Main Street Electrical Parade.

By law, historically registered structures aren't allowed to be distroyed but the interior can be changed to the owners wishes. Is this correct?

I may be wrong and its not protect completely, I've copied and pasted info below.
But basically yeah, interior can be remodeled but outside has to stay true to the original stucture. [huh]
The info I found says until 2018, because they were given grant money.[huh]
>>The historic building, which received a $1.5 million grant from the state Commission on Cultural Affairs<<
>> Mizrachi wants the state to remove the covenants that prevent the building from being altered or demolished without approval of state Historic Preservation Officer Ronald James. The covenants that prohibit the demolition run though 2018. James said this kind of flip-flop has never happened since the state started handing out grants to preserve historic structures in Nevada.<<The Huntridge is listed in the National Register of Historical Places and the State Register of Historical Places, the Web site states. Many movie stars visited the Huntridge to promote films, including Frank Sinatra, Jerry Lewis, Marlene Dietrich and Vincent Price, the Web site stated<<<

Full article here http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/sun/2005/sep/23/519404320.html?huntridge

As of today, July 10 2007, the Huntridge is still not open. (Last paragraph says by 2005 it was supposed to be reopened.)

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

It sound like if the government (or city, I'm not sure who permits grants) funds the building's preservation, it doesn't last as long. Maybe historically registered buildings can't be preserved forever if they don't pay the Historic Registry. [huh] Too much politcal jabber. Nevermind. Anymore photos? lol

 

[The Captain]

November 26, 1962

I may have posted this pic before, but this thread has me in a nostalgic mood. My wife and I stayed at The Sahara on our honeymoon, but we attended a show at The Sands to see our favorite, Nat King Cole. We were married at The Little White Chapel. I worked at The Horseshoe Casino prior to our marriage. We will celebrate our 45th Anniversary this year. Who says you can't beat the odds?

 

[panamag8or]

Are cars still able to drive down Fremont Street? From the look of a recent photo (not here), it looked too crowded to be safe for moving cars.

I believe Fremont is a pedestrian mall type of place now, but most of the old casinos are still around, and it is the place where you can get the $5 steaks and such.

Faythe can clarify, though.

 

[dhermann1]

Wow. This is fascinating. Maybe because of my deep seated Puritanical streak (I would have gotten along great with Oliver Cromwell) I always considered Las Vegas repugnant, I mean the whole idea, ya know? And of course scratch the surface of that and you find, oh, wow, what a cool place, I'd love to hang out with Dean and Frank on the strip. But the progression of these pix reveals the evolution of the city. Also, being of a certain age, I have a hard time conceiving of an era that I remember vividly (I've talked about this before) being a nostalgia-able era. Of course that's ridiculous. So, hey. I'm ready for Vegas. I actually went out and bought a pair of sunglasses last weekend, first I've ever owned.
More pix!

 

[princessofcandl]

I won't say that I hate the new Vegas cuz there are some redeeming things such as the Bellagio water show and everything Cirque du Soleil. But, being the odd girl that I am, I prefer the things that remind me of old Vegas.

1. I run around acting like I'm Ann-Margret.
2. I like to stay in the "older" hotels and refuse to pay outragous prices for Big-n-tacky. I usually stay in the Flamingo or Imperial Palace or Circus Circus (where my parent stayed for a 10-year delayed honeymoon).
3. We see "old" Vegas shows and acts. We have been to Elvis-o-rama, seen Legends (drag show and impersonators), and of course Wayne Newton at the Stratosphere. Everytime I go I want to see Tom Jones but he's out. Someone must have warned him about me.
4. Hubby and I like to visit hotels on the "hit list". There is a list somewhere, and I'll try to find it, of hotels that are marked for demolision. I visited the Sands, Stratosphere, and before demo. My husbands fav and saddest loss was the Western Ho Hotel next to Circus Circus cuz they sold a 1 pound hotdog for $1.50. I have a pic of him eating it though so good times. But I'm a little sad cuz hubby told me a lot of my favs are now on the hit list.

PS: I HATE the TI girls. Crazy... so glad I got to see the Pirate spectacular before they changed it.

 

[princessofcandl]

Oh crunch.... I forgot to mention the item I was posting for....

You have to check out the Neon Graveyard in Downtown Vegas. They have an area set up where they put up some of the neon signs from the original places torn down. Its neat!

 

[Diamondback]

IIRC, once it's on National Register, you're prohibited by Federal law from making major exterior changes. (You can gut the inside and do what you will there, but the "outer shell" has to maintain its historic appearance.)

 

[Diamondback]

PS: I HATE the TI girls. Crazy... so glad I got to see the Pirate spectacular before they changed it.

+1, ma'am--I stayed at TI the year after it opened, and it was the best place I've stayed in down there in over a decade of visiting--then MGM had to go and trash it out and ruin everything...:rage:

You can get "sleaze" anywhere--style like the old TI had is a whole lot more difficult...

 

[Hepcatkitten]

.
I run around acting like I'm Ann-Margret.
.

This made me smile because I feel the same way.

I just got back from Vegas last month and I kept wishing it could be like it was through the 40s-60s. I liked the aire of then, although I wasn't even alive then, haha. I would have loved to have even seen Elvis in 1969 or in the eary 70s.

I had a blast at the Frontier and sadly it just closed last week. It still had that "feel," when we were there.

I know what ya'll mean though about old Vegas.....

*sigh*

 

[Fletch]

Drive-In? Bus Terminal? Gas Station?

Nope, it's Las Vegas' Union Pacific railroad station, opened in 1940 and pictured here in '46, after the big U.P. shield was added to the roof.

Amazing how many Golden Era buttons this pushes – and yet none of them says "train station."

Of course it's gone now. Of course. [huh]

 

[goldwyn girl]

And people please, don't forget, Vegas is not just Down Town and the Strip.:rage:A few historic places.
http://www.hellovegas.com/HistoricPlaces.Cfm
]

Faythe, Well Said :eusa_clap People forget its a real city beyond the strip.
By the way where is Fongs Garden ?

 

[pretty faythe]

Faythe, Well Said :eusa_clap People forget its a real city beyond the strip.
By the way where is Fongs Garden ?

Its on Charleston between Bruce and Eastern.

 

[goldwyn girl]

Thank you

 

[pretty faythe]

2. I like to stay in the "older" hotels and refuse to pay outragous prices for Big-n-tacky. I usually stay in the Flamingo or Imperial Palace or Circus Circus (where my parent stayed for a 10-year delayed honeymoon).
before they changed it.

Circus Circus, the place for honeymoons. lol I remember before we moved here when my mom and ex-stepdad got married we all came here for the wedding and honeymoon at Circus Circus. Lets see, that would have been about 1980. We moved here in 83.

 

[John in Covina]

You have to check out the Neon Graveyard in Downtown Vegas. They have an area set up where they put up some of the neon signs from the original places torn down. Its neat!

YESCO Electric Sign Company has been saving a lot of the signs they were commisioned to remove before bringing in the replacement signs. There is a neat part of a party at the Sign Graveyard in "National Lampoon's Vegas Vacation" Audry parties with her cousin (Vickie?) who brings members of Sigfried & Roy's Stage company along with a band of the Beatles impersonators.

 

[princessofcandl]

This made me smile because I feel the same way.

I just got back from Vegas last month and I kept wishing it could be like it was through the 40s-60s. I liked the aire of then, although I wasn't even alive then, haha. I would have loved to have even seen Elvis in 1969 or in the eary 70s.

I had a blast at the Frontier and sadly it just closed last week. It still had that "feel," when we were there.

I know what ya'll mean though about old Vegas.....

*sigh*

Oh yeah.... And did I mention I run around singing Vivaaaaaaaa Las Vegas *shimmyshimmyshimmy* Vivaaaaaaa Las Vegas *shimmyshimmyshimmy*

 

[Prairie Dog]

My favorite line in the Real Las Vegas is when asked about the Mob running Vegas in the early days, Debbie Reynolds said, "Well, nobody got killed that wasn't supposed to get killed."
Viva Las Vegas.

Debbie Reynolds is a hoot! I liked the way she delivered that line. One of the last of the MGM studio greats.

She owned her own Vegas hotel in the 90's and had a museum there to display her collection of movie costumes. I believe she nearly went bankrupt from that Vegas endeavor. Reynolds has a history of bad money deals. Her second husband took her for all her money. Her first husband, fifties crooner Eddie Fisher left Reynolds for Elizabeth Taylor. Reynolds never had much luck in her personal life, that's why she still out there in Vegas performing at her late age.